Sunny skies and gentle ocean breezes are reliable features of the golf experience at Kona Country Club on the Big Island of Hawaii. Situated just six miles from downtown Kona, this historic William Bell design dates back to 1966. There used to be two courses here the Mauka ("Mountain") and Moana ("Ocean") courses but about 10 years ago the Mauka closed. Significant improvements to the club s irrigation system and course maintenance followed, along with a thorough re-doing of all of the greens. Now Kona Country Club is once again delighting golfers of all abilities. The playing field is a traditional, straightforward layout. The game here features wide, tree-lined fairways that lead to greens that tilt from back to front. There aren t many bunkers and the only water hazard out there is the natural one the world s largest body of water. Naturally, the ocean holes are the most memorable of the round. The 2nd hole heads straight toward the sea. A par 3 that parallels the sea follows. Kona Country Club doesn t return directly by the ocean until the 12 and 13th holes, both of which play right alongside the black lava-rock cliffs and the sea. Throughout the round you are never far from an enchanting ocean view. Kona Country Club s very large greens generally feature moderate breaks (holes #6 and #8 are exceptions), but the putting surfaces are grainy, so you ll need to produce a firm rap or proceed cautiously depending which way the grain is going. Pin placements can make Kona Country Club a tough course to score on, but the playing field is manageable for players of all levels. There are no forced carries and the wind is not usually a big factor either. You can warm up or practice on a driving range, putting green and chipping area. Kona Country Club also features a 90-yard par-3 practice hole that can be an ideal introduction to the game for novices. The View restaurant is located on site but it is a separate entity from the club. Kona Country Club is a delightful, scenic treat that won t beat you up. It s an ideal course to seek out for a tee time when you re on the Big Island of Hawaii.